Innocent Sinners

This is a truly excellent British film from the 1950's and, although hard to locate, is well worth searching for. From the opening credits to the satisfying finale, the film is a joy and one of the very best feel-good movies you will ever see. The story of a young city girl wanting to bring some beauty into the grim post war inner-city environment is gentle, touching and charming in equal measure, but never slips into mawkishness. This is helped enormously by the consistently brilliant playing of the whole cast - there is not a dud performance amongst them. The only puzzling aspect is why the juvenile leads, especially June Archer, never had successful acting careers. This film is unreservedly recommended to all who appreciate first class movie making!

I had not seen this movie in over 50 years! It made such an impact on me that I never forgot it. It was shown on TCM on 4-18-13 and I started to cry as soon as the titles began. The actors were excellent - with memorable performances by Flora Robson and an ultimately sympathetic one by the usually mean spirited Catherine Lacey. The children were exceptional with Christopher Hey as Tip Malone my favorite. I enjoyed the Philip Green score too. I've been waiting for years for this title to be released in the U.S. on DVD. Hopefully it will happen! There was an hour long production of "An Episode of Sparrows" on American television in 1956 - an episode of Climax theater. Patty McCormack played Lovejoy Mason and Brandon DeWilde was Tip Malone. How I would love to see that!

This is a fantastic movie that I was lucky to get off of Turner Classic Movies. I will never delete it. The IMDb synopsis does not even begin to do it justice. This the story of intertwined lives in postwar London, of faith, redeemed lives, of resilience, and of decency centered around a cocksure, yet sensitive young teenager. It's a coming-of-age story with an amazing lead actress, June Archer, who is convincing in her innocence and her confidence. She was amazing. If you ever get a chance to see this movie on TCM or find a way to buy it, do so.

I was very young when I saw 'Innocent Sinners'. The story and harmonica music by Larry Adler captured an 11 year old. I sat mesmerised in the front row of the ABC cinema in Eltham High Street, south London. Up to then, I'd had to view (Saturday morning matinées were de rigeur) films from America that had nothing in common with my life or the life of any children I knew. This was my first film view which had raw music to underscore a story. Was this combination of music and film an early example of the art? The story was a British story with children who were post-war survivors of the Blitz. I grow a wild flower in my garden in honour of this film about gardening in the rubble. The flower is Rose Bay Willow Herb or 'Fireweed'. The seeds thrive when burnt. The survivors of the Blitx knew the flower only too well on the bomb sites of post-war London.

I read the book "An Episode of Sparrows" in 1976 as part of an exam. I loved the book from go to woe even thought the whole way through the exam I referred to Tip Malone as Skip Malone (Lost a few marks there) nerves getting the better of me.

It never occurred to me that there might have been a movie made about this novel. I got up through the night a year or so ago and switched on the telly. It's prime time viewing for those who love the old B&W's. The movie which was just about to start was "Innocent Strangers". I didn't relate this title to the title of the novel. I was ecstatic when I realized what I was watching. It didn't disappoint at all.